title: Impact of Fontan operation on left ventricular size and contractility in tricuspid atresia.
abstract: Left ventricular dimensions and contractility were determined by echocardiography in 33 patients with tricuspid atresia in 1985 and again in 1988. Eight patients remained palliated throughout the 3-year period; neither the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (153 +/- 15% of normal vs. 157 +/- 19%, p = NS) nor a load-independent index of contractility (rate-corrected velocity of shortening [VCFc]/end-systolic meridional stress [ESSM]) changed. Eleven patients underwent a Fontan operation during the study and were reevaluated at least 6 months after surgery; left ventricular dimension decreased (130 +/- 15% vs. 114 +/- 19%, p less than 0.001), and the contractility index VCFc/ESSM improved (p less than 0.05). Fourteen patients had undergone a Fontan operation 0.9-9.5 years (mean, 4.2 years) before initial examination in 1985. Over the 3-year period, left ventricular dimensions did not change (121 +/- 17% vs. 118 +/- 11%, p = NS), but the contractility index showed significant improvement (p less than 0.01). Eight additional patients were studied just before and after a Fontan operation to examine the early effects of surgery. Left ventricular dimensions decreased from 130 +/- 14% to 100 +/- 13% by 10 days p less than 0.001) with no further change at 2 months. An inappropriate degree of ventricular hypertrophy was observed in only the early postoperative period. Successful Fontan repair results in rapid reduction of left ventricular size, followed by regression of hypertrophy to a normal mass-to-volume ratio. Operating at more favorable dimensions and loading conditions results in an early increase in left ventricular contractility, which further improves in the medium term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Unit, Hospital For Sick Children, London, England.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gewillig
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Lundström
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Deanfield
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wyse
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery